Robbery: 3 to hang in Katsina
From MU’AWUYA B. IDRIS, Katsina

A HIGH Court III in Katsina state has sentenced three persons to death by hanging or firing squad over armed robbery.
The three convicts, Abdul-Rahman Muhammad, Aminu Sada and Malam Yunusa were arraigned before the court on November 18, 2004 and charged with robbery, contrary to Section 1(2) (a) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision Act).
They were found guilty of attacking and robbing two persons namely, Hambali Ibrahim and Ibrahim Halidu, while armed with dangerous weapons and collected the sum of N175,000 from them.
Delivering the judgement, presiding judge, Justice Abdullahi Yusuf noted that on any offence of robbery, there is no alternative to the punishment provided in the Act.
The judge said, ‘’the accused persons are thereby sentenced to death by hanging by neck until death or by firing squad which ever option is chosen by the executive governor of Katsina state.’’
He, however, said, ‘’the only thing I will add is that only the committee on prerogative of mercy can recommend to the governor and require his clemency to consider your case favourably.’’